High-quality electronic records contain complete and accurate information about each patient's health. When your data is correct, you can rely on it and make clinical decisions with confidence. However, missing, inaccurate or non-standard information can lead to inconsistent care.

People in the UK are living with chronic illnesses but not getting appropriate treatment. Without intervention, patients face worsening health with irreversible damage. For some, the outcome will be worse than this. No one is to blame for these undiagnosed conditions. The NHS is not at fault. So what is the problem, and what can you do about it?

A departmentalised and fragmented health service is inefficient. Information flows are weak and the patient experience suffers. Collaborative care (also known as integrated care and shared care) is a trend in healthcare reform. It can improve care in terms of quality, efficiency and the patient experience.

The number of patients needing help with their mental health is increasing. Closer working with mental health teams can reduce the pressure on GPs, and sharing medical records and diaries can make it easy to integrate these services.

Every two minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer. An early cancer diagnosis is more likely to lead to a successful outcome. If a tumour gets too large or spreads to other areas of the body, it is more difficult to treat. Cancer Research UK say that diagnosis at the earliest stage helps:

Frailty is common in older age, and there are strong links between frailty and the risk of dying. Older people with frailty are weaker and more delicate. They can experience sudden and dramatic changes in their health when they have an illness or injury. Reducing the risk of falls can help people to live at home, in safety, for longer.

Estimates suggest there are more than 380 million GP consultations each year in the UK. For a regular practice that's around 41,000 appointments. Optimising how you book appointments saves time for you and your patients. That means shorter queues at your reception desk, less time on the phone and happier patients.